The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Delight as ‘common sense has prevailed’
One objector who has been at the heart of the local battle against the development since the site sprung up four years ago this month said the reporter’s decision was an unexpected lift for campaigners who feared the tide had turned against them.
“I am very pleasantly surprised – I wasn’t thinking that it was going to be refused but common sense has prevailed,” said the local.
“It also seems that the Scottish ministers have taken the advice of Sepa and listened to the experts – thank goodness.
“After the last council decision to give it the go-ahead we thought it was a done deal and that they were going to be allowed to stay.”
North East Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “This is great news and vindication for what has been a long-running and tireless campaign by local residents.
“I am delighted to see that the government-appointed reporter has agreed that this development should not have been approved in the first place.
“Questions must surely be asked as to how this situation was allowed to develop and how the site was permitted to remain all this time, despite the clear difficulties presented.
“I would also like to give my late colleague Alex Johnstone MSP recognition and thanks for the huge amount of work he did during this process.”
Mr Kerr added: “From the outset, it seemed as if he was the only person willing to do anything about this at Holyrood and challenge an applicant apparently riding roughshod over planning policy and the rights and views of local residents.
“It was only with his guidance when I was elected as an MSP, and the work that he put in, that I was able to join and continue the fight to this entirely appropriate conclusion.”